Making money on TikTok is not just for influencers with thousands or millions of followers. While a large following certainly helps, it’s still possible to earn money on the platform even if you’re starting from scratch. What matters most is how creative, consistent, and strategic you are with the opportunities TikTok offers. Here’s how you can make money on TikTok without a big fan base.
Use Affiliate Marketing to Your Advantage
One of the easiest ways to make money on TikTok without followers is by promoting affiliate products. Affiliate marketing allows you to earn a commission every time someone buys a product using your link. Platforms like Amazon Associates, Jumia KOL, and ShareASale offer programs where you can generate unique links to products. You don’t need a huge following—what matters is creating content that solves problems or answers questions people are searching for. For example, you can post product reviews, how-to videos, or even unboxings. When someone finds your video helpful and clicks on your affiliate link in the bio, you earn a commission if they make a purchase.
To maximize your earnings, focus on creating searchable content. Use keywords in your captions, use relevant hashtags, and make your content engaging enough to be shared. This way, your videos can go viral even if your profile is new.
Offer a Service or Skill
TikTok can act as a digital portfolio to advertise your skills. If you’re a graphic designer, writer, tutor, editor, or even a virtual assistant, you can create short videos showcasing your work. Use trending sounds and popular formats to demonstrate your expertise. You don’t need followers to get noticed—just make sure your content is creative and informative. Once people see what you offer, they may reach out through your email or link in your bio for services.
Also Read: How TikTok Has Affected the Music Industry
Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork can help you connect with clients. You can direct TikTok viewers to your profile on these platforms, where they can hire you. The key is to let your videos speak for your skills, which builds credibility even before you gain followers.
Sell Digital Products or Courses
If you have expertise in a specific area—such as fitness, language learning, coding, or makeup—you can package your knowledge into a digital product like an eBook, guide, or online course. TikTok gives you a powerful way to market those products. You can create a series of informative and engaging videos that tease value from your course or product and then direct people to a purchase link in your bio.
Digital products are a one-time effort that can keep earning you money passively. The goal is to create educational or entertaining content around your product. Since TikTok’s algorithm often shows content to users who don’t follow you, your video can still go viral and drive sales even without a following.
Work with Small Brands or Dropshipping
Even without followers, you can pitch yourself to small brands looking for content creators to create user-generated content (UGC). These are short, authentic videos that brands can use on their own social media or ad campaigns. Many small businesses prefer to work with everyday users rather than big influencers to get genuine content. You can reach out directly to these brands and offer your services as a content creator for a fee.
Another option is to start a dropshipping business. Use TikTok to create fun, catchy videos around your products, even without revealing your identity. Once your videos start to trend, they can bring traffic to your store, and you can make sales through Shopify or WooCommerce platforms without handling any inventory.
